MAN JOINS MIDI SCENE
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Minibuses are well-established, but some operators need larger vehicles without going for a full-sized bus. MAN has joined the queue with a new 35-seater.
• MAN has launched a new ten-tonne midi-bus chassis using engines from its latest G range of trucks. The chassis, designated 10.150/180 HOC L, has been designed for use as anything from an urban bus to a luxury coach and, with a rear-engined layout, has a very low floor.
It will be available with either a naturally-aspirated 110kW (150hp) or a 132kW (180hp) turbocharged version of MAN's new 6.87-litre diesel engine, mounted in line at the rear and close-coupled to either a fiveor six-speed ZF synchromesh gearbox. An automatic gearbox is not available, as MAN does not make a suitable unit.
Twin-bellows rolling-seal airsuspension is fitted to both axles to give a constant entry height under all loads. A 320mm-high step leads to a flat floor height of about 600mm. Bodied to UK specification the midi should accommodate over 50 passengers with about 35 seats depending on body type.
IMPRESSIONS
We were able to drive and ride in a prototype fitted with GOpel bodywork built to the West German VOV standard and found ride and noise levels to be similar to those offered by full-size rear-engined buses.
The handling is predictable and the vehicle cornered with no perceptible body roll. The 10.150/180 HOCL has the midi advantages of size and performance, but with heavy-duty long-life components. It features 24-volt electrics, ZF power assisted steering and a full-air braking system.
The chassis will be available in three versions to suit urban buses, inter-urban buses and long-distance coaches. All three have a 4.2m wheelbase to give an overall vehicle length of 8.7m. An Eaton hypoid rear axle is fitted with a choice of six ratios from 3.36:1 to 4.63:1. MAN will not body the vehicle itself and the German body on the prototype is unlikely to be offered in this country, but MAN does plan to develop a right-hand-drive variant and says that a bus version fitted with British built bodywork could sell for below 260,000.
The low floor layout could make it useful where minibuses schemes have been developed successfully and higher capacity small vehicles are now required by operators.